Improvement in combined stopper-locks and stopper-extractors for bottles



F. D e G R ESS.

Combined Stopper-Locks and Stopper-Extractors for Bottles No.150,299. Patent edApriI28','1874.

W l 4 a UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

FRANCIS DE GRESS, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT lN COMBINED STOPPE R-LOCKS AND STOPPER-EXTRACTORS FOR BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,299, dated April 28, 1874; application filed April 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS DE Gunss, of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Combined Stopper-Lock'and Stopper-Extractor for Bottles, Demijohns, &c., of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists in a cap, to which the stopper is permanent-lyfastened, and into the sides of which are pivoted arms, the outer ends of which are bent inwardly, forming hooks, for the purpose of clamping the stopper to the shoulder of the bottle, when the arms are brought into a position in which they are held by a locking device contained in the cap, and operated by a removable key.

The object of this invention is to provide for the protection of the contents of a bottle, demijohn, jug, or the like, against improper abstraction, and to facilitate the extraction of the stopper from the neck of the bottle by the proper person at the proper time.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a partly vertical section on the line w m, Fig. 3, of the combined stopper-lock and stopper-extractor, as locked to the neck of a bottle. Fig. 2 is a full vertical section of the same on the line :20 :20, showing the arms in an elevated position, and forming a handle for the purpose of extracting the stopper. Fig. 3 is an under view corresponding with Fig. 2, but the stopper and stopper-plate removed. Fig. 4 shows an under view, with arms closed and stopper and stopper-plate removed. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section on the line y y.

A is the cap, which is provided on its sides with two notches, a at, opposite each other. Into these notches are fitted and pivoted arms B B, the outer ends b b of which are bent to a suitable angle and form hooks, which are designed to catch under the shoulder of the neck of a bottle, jug, or other vessel. The inner ends of the arms are provided, on the outer sides, with shoulders at a, which rest against the sides of the cap when the arms have been swung upward, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner sides of the arms B B project from the pivot into the cap A, forming lugs 12 I). These lugs form part of the lockin g device, consisting, further, in an externally screw-threaded disk, 0, which screws into a female screw provided inside the cap A. The disk 0 is notched at c c, correspondingly with the notches a a in the cap, for the purpose of admitting the lugs b b on the arms B B to project partly into the disk- G, and to move freely on their pivots when the notches of the cap A and disk 0 are placed opposite each other. The under side of the lugs b I) must be above the upper face of the disk when the arms B B are hanging down. The disk is further provided with a polygonal or other suitably shaped key-hole, h, in its center, to receive a key by which it may be turned. The under side of the disk O is furnished with a pin, f, engaging with a slot, (1, in a circular plate, D, to which the stopper E is fastened. The plate D fits into a recess formed in the face of the wall of the cap A, and is secured by screws to the cap. The slot (1 and pin f limit the turning of the disk, and serve, by arresting the motion of the moving disks, to insure the bringing of the notches ot' the cap and disk opposite each other, while they also prevent the disk from being turned too far in a reverse direction, thereby insuring a ready locking and unlocking of the bottlestopper lock and extractor. The stopper E is secured to the plate D by pins 0 0, projecting from the plate through the stopper, and provided with screw-threads and nuts. The stopper may, however, be fastened in any other suitable manner. From the center of the plate D a pin, 70, projects upward, which serves as a guide for the hollow key inserted into the look through the hole 9 in the cap A.

I11 operating the combined bottle-stopper, the notches c c and a a of the disk 0 and cap A are brought opposite each other by the key, to allow the arms B B to drop. The stopper is then inserted into the neck of the bottle, and the hook-shaped ends b b of the arms are placed under the shoulder of the neck. The key is then turned, and the notches c c of the disk 0 are pushed from under the lugs b b of the arms B B, whereby the arms are securely fastened and held in position by the solid part of the disk 0, which is drawn tightly against the under side of the lugs b b by the upward motion of the screw-thread, thereby pressing and holding the hooked ends b b of the arms B B under the shoulder of the neck of the bottle. In releasing the arms, the

notches c a and a a of the disk and cap are brought opposite each other by turning the disk in the opposite direction until arrested by slot 01 in the stopper-plate D, whereby the arms B B are released. They may then be swung upward until the shoulders to a on their outer sides are pushing against the side of the cap A. In this position they form an efficient handle for the purpose of extracting the stopper.

The locking device of the bottle-stopper lock and stopper extractor may be modified by substitt'iting for the screw-threaded disk a notched and smooth-sided disk, the upper face of which may be provided with two inclined planes resembling a screw-thread, which are designed to engage with the under side of the lugs of the arms, whereby the locking of the same is effected.

1. The combination of the hooked and lugged arms B B, the notched disk 0, and the cap A, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination of the disk 0, furnished with pin f, and the stopper-plate 1), provided with slot (1, for the purpose of limiting the way in turning the disk 0, as described.

8. The arms 13 B, fitted and pivoted to the cap A, with shoulders to a, whereby, when unlocked they serve as handles to draw the stopper, substantially as described.

FRANCIS DE GRESS.

Witnesses: Q

BENJAMIN W. HOFFMAN, FRED. IIAYNES. 

